Otter Tail Corporation Announces Second Quarter Earnings and Increases Annual Earnings Guidance

Otter Tail Corporation (Nasdaq: OTTR) today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025.

SUMMARY

  • Produced diluted earnings per share of $1.85 in the second quarter of 2025.
  • Increased midpoint of 2025 earnings per share guidance by $0.38 to $6.26 per share.
  • Return on equity of 17% over the trailing twelve months. 

CEO OVERVIEW

“We are pleased with our second quarter financial results,” said President and CEO Chuck MacFarlane. “Across our businesses, our team members remain committed to our mission - delivering value through building strong electric and manufacturing platforms - amidst dynamic market conditions.

"During the second quarter, severe weather moved through Otter Tail Power’s service territory, resulting in significant property and infrastructure damage, as well as tree loss. Approximately 30 percent of our customers experienced an interruption in electric service due to the storms. Our employees worked tirelessly to restore power to our customers as quickly and safely as possible.

“Beyond our storm response, Otter Tail Power continues to perform well, executing on our significant capital investment plan and regulatory priorities. We secured approval to directly assign and recover the capital investment for our two solar development projects from the Minnesota and South Dakota Commissions. We look forward to adding 345 MW of cost-effective solar generation to our portfolio to better serve our customers. Additionally, for the first time since 2018, we filed a request with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission for permission to increase our electric rates by approximately $5.7 million.

“Our Manufacturing segment continues to navigate soft end market demand but remains well positioned to respond when market conditions improve. Our recently completed BTD Georgia facility is ramping up to full production capability and we look forward to being able to better serve our growing customers in the southeast.

“Plastics segment results outpaced our expectations for the second quarter. We continue to benefit from strong product demand and higher sales volumes as the sales prices of PVC pipe continue to recede.

“We are uplifting our 2025 diluted earnings per share guidance for the Plastics segment, increasing our consolidated guidance to a range of $6.06 to $6.46 from our previous range of $5.68 to $6.08.

“Our strategic diversification continues to serve us and our stakeholders well even as we return to more normalized levels of Plastics segment earnings, generating incremental cash for us to reinvest into our significant utility rate base growth plan. We remain confident in our ability to deliver on our investment targets, producing an earnings per share growth of 6 to 8 percent.”

QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

On August 4, 2025, the corporation’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.525 per share. This dividend is payable September 10, 2025 to shareholders of record on August 15, 2025.

CASH FLOWS AND LIQUIDITY

Our consolidated cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2025 was $159.4 million compared to $223.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, with the decrease primarily due to the timing of fuel cost and rider recoveries from our utility customers and the timing of payments for operating costs, as well as a decrease in earnings.

Investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2025 included capital expenditures of $124.2 million. Capital expenditures during the period were largely within our Electric segment, including investments in wind repowering, advanced metering infrastructure, and transmission line projects.

Financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2025 included the issuance of $100.0 million of long-term debt at Otter Tail Power; the proceeds of which were used to repay short-term borrowings, fund capital investments, and support operating activities. Financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2025 also included net repayments of short-term borrowings totaling $69.6 million and dividend payments of $44.0 million.

As of June 30, 2025, we had $170.0 million and $211.0 million of available liquidity under our Otter Tail Corporation and Otter Tail Power credit facilities, respectively, along with $307.2 million of available cash and cash equivalents, for total available liquidity of $688.2 million.

SEGMENT PERFORMANCE

Electric Segment

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

2025

 

2024

 

Change

 

% Change

Operating Revenues

$

128,731

 

$

112,828

 

$

15,903

 

14.1

%

Net Income

 

19,195

 

 

18,485

 

 

710

 

3.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail MWh Sales

 

1,337,696

 

 

1,315,504

 

 

22,192

 

1.7

%

Heating Degree Days

 

460

 

 

372

 

 

88

 

23.7

 

Cooling Degree Days

 

145

 

 

61

 

 

84

 

137.7

 

The following table shows heating and cooling degree days as a percent of normal.

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

2025

 

2024

Heating Degree Days

86.5%

 

68.8%

Cooling Degree Days

114.2%

 

48.8%

The following table summarizes the estimated effect on diluted earnings per share of the difference in retail kilowatt-hour (kwh) sales under actual weather conditions and expected retail kwh sales under normal weather conditions for the three months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024.

 

2025 vs

Normal

 

2025 vs

2024

 

2024 vs

Normal

Effect on Diluted Earnings Per Share

$

 

$

0.03

 

$

(0.03

)

Operating Revenues increased $15.9 million primarily due to increases in fuel recovery and rider revenues, and the impact of favorable weather compared to the same period last year. Increased fuel recovery revenue was primarily driven by an increase in the price of natural gas and the cost of market energy. Increased rider revenue was largely from the recovery of our investments in our wind repowering projects.

Net Income increased $0.7 million primarily due to the increase in revenues, as described above, partially offset by increased operating and maintenance expenses, including planned outage costs at Coyote Station, and increased depreciation and interest expense associated with our rate base investments.

Manufacturing Segment

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

2025

 

2024

 

$ Change

 

% Change

Operating Revenues

$

78,726

 

$

96,684

 

$

(17,958

)

 

(18.6

)%

Net Income

 

3,481

 

 

6,835

 

 

(3,354

)

 

(49.1

)

Operating Revenues decreased $18.0 million primarily due to a 9% decrease in sales volumes, with declines experienced across several end markets, including agriculture, recreational vehicles, lawn and garden, and construction. Sales volumes were down at our metal fabrication business due to soft end market demand and inventory management efforts by manufacturers and dealers. A 7% decrease in steel costs, which are passed through to customers, also contributed to the decrease in operating revenues.

Net Income decreased $3.4 million primarily due to lower sales volumes and enhanced profit margins in the second quarter of 2024, which benefited from the positive impact of the timing of pass-through steel cost fluctuations and the selling of lower cost inventory. The impacts of decreased operating revenues and profit margins were partially offset by a decrease in general and administrative costs.

Plastics Segment

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

$ Change

 

% Change

Operating Revenues

$

125,586

 

$

132,824

 

$

(7,238

)

 

(5.4

)%

Net Income

 

53,104

 

 

60,612

 

 

(7,508

)

 

(12.4

)

Operating Revenues decreased $7.2 million primarily due to a 15% decrease in sales prices compared to the same period last year, continuing the steady decline in product pricing from peak market conditions in late 2022. The impact of decreased sales prices was partially offset by an 11% increase in sales volumes, driven by strong distributor and end-market demand for our products, coupled with increased production capacity following the completion of our expansion project at Vinyltech in late 2024. Active infrastructure investment and construction activity across our sales territories continue to contribute to strong demand for our products.

Net Income decreased $7.5 million primarily due to decreased sales prices, as described above, partially offset by the 11% increase in sales volumes and a 15% decrease in PVC resin cost driven by global supply and demand dynamics which continues to result in elevated supply.

Corporate

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

$ Change

 

% Change

Net Income

$

1,948

 

$

1,063

 

$

885

 

83.3

%

Net Income increased $0.9 million primarily due to increased market-based gains on our corporate-owned life insurance policy investments.

2025 OUTLOOK

We are increasing our 2025 diluted earnings per share guidance to a range of $6.06 to $6.46. We expect our earnings mix in 2025 to be approximately 37% from our Electric segment and 63% from our Manufacturing and Plastics segments, net of corporate costs. Our anticipated earnings mix in 2025 deviates from our long-term expected earnings mix of 65% Electric / 35% Non-Electric as we expect Plastics segment earnings to remain elevated in 2025 compared to our long-term view of normal earnings for this segment.

The segment components of our 2025 diluted earnings per share guidance compared with actual earnings for 2024 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

2025 EPS Guidance

 

2025 EPS Guidance

 

 

2024 EPS

 

February 17, 2025

 

August 4, 2025

 

 

by Segment

 

Low

 

High

 

Low

 

High

Electric

 

 

$

2.16

 

 

$

2.29

 

 

$

2.35

 

 

$

2.29

 

 

$

2.35

 

Manufacturing

 

 

 

0.33

 

 

 

0.21

 

 

 

0.27

 

 

 

0.21

 

 

 

0.27

 

Plastics

 

 

 

4.77

 

 

 

3.26

 

 

 

3.50

 

 

 

3.64

 

 

 

3.88

 

Corporate

 

 

 

(0.09

)

 

 

(0.08

)

 

 

(0.04

)

 

 

(0.08

)

 

 

(0.04

)

Total

 

 

$

7.17

 

 

$

5.68

 

 

$

6.08

 

 

$

6.06

 

 

$

6.46

 

Return on Equity

 

 

 

19.3

%

 

 

13.8

%

 

 

14.6

%

 

 

14.5

%

 

 

15.3

%

We are maintaining our earnings guidance for our Electric and Manufacturing segments and maintaining our Corporate cost outlook. We are increasing our Plastics segment earnings guidance based on:

  • Better than expected financial results in the second quarter of 2025,
  • Lower material costs anticipated for the remainder of the year, as the forecasted price of PVC resin has declined, and
  • Revised expectations for PVC pipe pricing for the second half of the year.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

The corporation will host a live webcast on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. CT to discuss its financial and operating performance.

The presentation will be posted on our website before the webcast. To access the live webcast, go to www.ottertail.com/presentations and select “Webcast.” Please allow time prior to the call to visit the site and download any software needed to listen in. An archived copy of the webcast will be available on our website shortly after the call.

If you are interested in asking a question during the live webcast, visit and follow the link provided in the press release announcing the upcoming conference call.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Except for historical information contained here, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “goal,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “opportunity,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “probable,” “projected,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management. Forward-looking statements made herein, which may include statements regarding 2025 earnings and earnings per share, long-term earnings, earnings per share growth and earnings mix, anticipated levels of energy generation from renewable resources, anticipated reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, future investments and capital expenditures, rate base levels and rate base growth, future raw materials costs, future raw materials availability and supply constraints, future operating revenues and operating results, and expectations regarding regulatory proceedings, as well as other assumptions and statements, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results in current or future periods to differ materially from the forecasted assumptions and expected results. The Company’s risks and uncertainties include, among other things, uncertainty of future investments and capital expenditures; rate base levels and rate base growth; risks associated with energy markets; the availability and pricing of resource materials; inflationary cost pressures; attracting and maintaining a qualified and stable workforce; changing macroeconomic and industry conditions that impact the demand for our products, pricing and margin; long-term investment risk; seasonal weather patterns and extreme weather events; future business volumes with key customers; reductions in our credit ratings; our ability to access capital markets on favorable terms; assumptions and costs relating to funding our employee benefit plans; our subsidiaries’ ability to make dividend payments; cybersecurity threats or data breaches; the impact of government legislation and regulation including foreign trade policy and environmental; health and safety laws and regulations; changes in tax laws and regulations; the impact of climate change including compliance with legislative and regulatory changes to address climate change; expectations regarding regulatory proceedings, assigned service areas, the construction of major facilities, capital structure, and allowed customer rates; actual and threatened claims or litigation; and operational and economic risks associated with our electric generating and manufacturing facilities. These and other risks are more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as applicable. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking information.

Category: Earnings

About the Corporation: Otter Tail Corporation, a member of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, has interests in diversified operations that include an electric utility and manufacturing businesses. Otter Tail Corporation stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol OTTR. The latest investor and corporate information is available at www.ottertail.com. Corporate offices are in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and Fargo, North Dakota.

OTTER TAIL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

(in thousands, except per-share amounts)

 

2025

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2025

 

 

 

2024

 

Operating Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric

$

128,731

 

 

$

112,828

 

 

$

278,451

 

 

$

254,317

 

Product Sales

 

204,312

 

 

 

229,508

 

 

 

391,945

 

 

 

435,087

 

Total Operating Revenues

 

333,043

 

 

 

342,336

 

 

 

670,396

 

 

 

689,404

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric Production Fuel

 

16,292

 

 

 

12,324

 

 

 

30,613

 

 

 

30,018

 

Electric Purchased Power

 

15,497

 

 

 

9,249

 

 

 

46,367

 

 

 

31,771

 

Electric Operating and Maintenance Expense

 

46,804

 

 

 

44,652

 

 

 

95,685

 

 

 

92,630

 

Cost of Products Sold (excluding depreciation)

 

105,966

 

 

 

116,795

 

 

 

210,353

 

 

 

231,518

 

Nonelectric Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

 

17,352

 

 

 

18,154

 

 

 

38,644

 

 

 

37,067

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

29,447

 

 

 

26,632

 

 

 

58,822

 

 

 

52,528

 

Electric Property Taxes

 

4,227

 

 

 

3,619

 

 

 

8,455

 

 

 

7,986

 

Total Operating Expenses

 

235,585

 

 

 

231,425

 

 

 

488,939

 

 

 

483,518

 

Operating Income

 

97,458

 

 

 

110,911

 

 

 

181,457

 

 

 

205,886

 

Other Income and (Expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense

 

(11,720

)

 

 

(10,202

)

 

 

(23,273

)

 

 

(20,052

)

Nonservice Components of Postretirement Benefits

 

854

 

 

 

2,388

 

 

 

2,136

 

 

 

4,830

 

Other Income (Expense), net

 

4,788

 

 

 

4,490

 

 

 

9,244

 

 

 

9,069

 

Income Before Income Taxes

 

91,380

 

 

 

107,587

 

 

 

169,564

 

 

 

199,733

 

Income Tax Expense

 

13,652

 

 

 

20,592

 

 

 

23,737

 

 

 

38,400

 

Net Income

$

77,728

 

 

$

86,995

 

 

$

145,827

 

 

$

161,333

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

41,874

 

 

 

41,784

 

 

 

41,850

 

 

 

41,754

 

Diluted

 

42,118

 

 

 

42,068

 

 

 

42,090

 

 

 

42,051

 

Earnings Per Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

1.86

 

 

$

2.08

 

 

$

3.48

 

 

$

3.86

 

Diluted

$

1.85

 

 

$

2.07

 

 

$

3.46

 

 

$

3.84

 

OTTER TAIL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

 

 

June 30,

 

December 31,

(in thousands)

 

2025

 

 

2024

Assets

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

$

307,241

 

$

294,651

Receivables, net of allowance for credit losses

 

180,823

 

 

145,964

Inventories

 

151,558

 

 

148,885

Regulatory Assets

 

8,946

 

 

9,962

Other Current Assets

 

25,842

 

 

30,579

Total Current Assets

 

674,410

 

 

630,041

Noncurrent Assets

 

 

 

Investments

 

128,289

 

 

121,177

Property, Plant and Equipment, net of accumulated depreciation

 

2,754,068

 

 

2,692,460

Regulatory Assets

 

99,010

 

 

98,673

Intangible Assets, net of accumulated amortization

 

5,192

 

 

5,743

Goodwill

 

37,572

 

 

37,572

Other Noncurrent Assets

 

66,747

 

 

66,416

Total Noncurrent Assets

 

3,090,878

 

 

3,022,041

Total Assets

$

3,765,288

 

$

3,652,082

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

Short-Term Debt

$

 

$

69,615

Accounts Payable

 

98,234

 

 

113,574

Accrued Salaries and Wages

 

25,039

 

 

34,398

Accrued Taxes

 

16,465

 

 

17,314

Regulatory Liabilities

 

24,580

 

 

29,307

Other Current Liabilities

 

39,162

 

 

45,582

Total Current Liabilities

 

203,480

 

 

309,790

Noncurrent Liabilities and Deferred Credits

 

 

 

Pension Benefit Liability

 

32,204

 

 

32,614

Other Postretirement Benefits Liability

 

26,494

 

 

27,385

Regulatory Liabilities

 

289,546

 

 

288,928

Deferred Income Taxes

 

278,091

 

 

267,745

Deferred Tax Credits

 

14,705

 

 

14,990

Other Noncurrent Liabilities

 

102,932

 

 

98,397

Total Noncurrent Liabilities and Deferred Credits

 

743,972

 

 

730,059

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

Capitalization

 

 

 

Long-Term Debt

 

1,043,374

 

 

943,734

Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

Common Shares

 

209,522

 

 

209,140

Additional Paid-In Capital

 

432,664

 

 

429,089

Retained Earnings

 

1,131,542

 

 

1,029,738

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

734

 

 

532

Total Shareholders' Equity

 

1,774,462

 

 

1,668,499

Total Capitalization

 

2,817,836

 

 

2,612,233

Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

$

3,765,288

 

$

3,652,082

OTTER TAIL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

(in thousands)

 

2025

 

 

 

2024

 

Operating Activities

 

 

 

Net Income

$

145,827

 

 

$

161,333

 

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:

 

 

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

58,822

 

 

 

52,528

 

Deferred Tax Credits

 

(285

)

 

 

(372

)

Deferred Income Taxes

 

6,149

 

 

 

9,492

 

Investment Gains

 

(2,741

)

 

 

(3,111

)

Stock Compensation Expense

 

7,396

 

 

 

6,824

 

Other, net

 

(1,745

)

 

 

(1,251

)

Change in Operating Assets and Liabilities:

 

 

 

Receivables

 

(34,859

)

 

 

(34,803

)

Inventories

 

(131

)

 

 

(11,551

)

Regulatory Assets

 

(643

)

 

 

7,361

 

Other Assets

 

4,756

 

 

 

(3,951

)

Accounts Payable

 

(6,477

)

 

 

41,239

 

Accrued and Other Liabilities

 

(13,447

)

 

 

(19,312

)

Regulatory Liabilities

 

198

 

 

 

23,863

 

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

 

(3,441

)

 

 

(4,828

)

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

 

159,379

 

 

 

223,461

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

Capital Expenditures

 

(124,239

)

 

 

(175,528

)

Proceeds from Disposal of Noncurrent Assets

 

2,792

 

 

 

5,124

 

Purchases of Investments and Other Assets

 

(5,579

)

 

 

(57,661

)

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

 

(127,026

)

 

 

(228,065

)

Financing Activities

 

 

 

Net Repayments of Short-Term Debt

 

(69,615

)

 

 

(68,612

)

Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term Debt

 

100,000

 

 

 

120,000

 

Dividends Paid

 

(44,023

)

 

 

(39,122

)

Payments for Shares Withheld for Employee Tax Obligations

 

(3,134

)

 

 

(5,753

)

Other, net

 

(2,991

)

 

 

(1,610

)

Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities

 

(19,763

)

 

 

4,903

 

Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

12,590

 

 

 

299

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

 

294,651

 

 

 

230,373

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

$

307,241

 

 

$

230,672

 

OTTER TAIL CORPORATION

SEGMENT RESULTS (unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

Six Months Ended June 30,

(in thousands)

 

2025

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2025

 

 

 

2024

 

Operating Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric

$

128,731

 

 

$

112,828

 

 

$

278,451

 

 

$

254,317

 

Manufacturing

 

78,726

 

 

 

96,684

 

 

 

160,412

 

 

 

196,065

 

Plastics

 

125,586

 

 

 

132,824

 

 

 

231,533

 

 

 

239,022

 

Total Operating Revenues

$

333,043

 

 

$

342,336

 

 

$

670,396

 

 

$

689,404

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income (Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric

$

23,633

 

 

$

22,597

 

 

$

52,676

 

 

$

51,639

 

Manufacturing

 

5,065

 

 

 

9,600

 

 

 

7,492

 

 

 

17,014

 

Plastics

 

72,034

 

 

 

82,089

 

 

 

130,909

 

 

 

145,392

 

Corporate

 

(3,274

)

 

 

(3,375

)

 

 

(9,620

)

 

 

(8,159

)

Total Operating Income

$

97,458

 

 

$

110,911

 

 

$

181,457

 

 

$

205,886

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric

$

19,195

 

 

$

18,485

 

 

$

43,903

 

 

$

40,956

 

Manufacturing

 

3,481

 

 

 

6,835

 

 

 

5,013

 

 

 

12,096

 

Plastics

 

53,104

 

 

 

60,612

 

 

 

96,543

 

 

 

107,350

 

Corporate

 

1,948

 

 

 

1,063

 

 

 

368

 

 

 

931

 

Total Net Income

$

77,728

 

 

$

86,995

 

 

$

145,827

 

 

$

161,333

 

 

Contacts

Investor Contacts: Beth Eiken, Manager of Investor Relations, (701) 451-3571

Media Contact: Stephanie Hoff, Director of Corporate Communications, (218) 739-8535

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